The State of Talent in Travel 2025
The State of Talent in Travel 2025
Skift Take
Despite strong demand and hiring momentum, travel is stuck in a cycle of churn — with pay gaps, skills shortages, and weak career pathways making talent the sector’s biggest growth challenge.
Report Overview
Talent is travel’s make-or-break challenge in 2025.
Our State of Talent in Travel 2025 report reveals why workforce strategy now sits at the heart of profitability, innovation, and customer loyalty. Demand for travel jobs is at record highs, yet companies face fragile retention, widening skills gaps, and a growing disconnect between what workers want and what employers deliver.
Inside, we unpack:
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Why pay, flexibility, and career growth are the top drivers of loyalty — and how companies are falling short.
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How chronic churn is eroding margins, with average tenure just two years in hospitality.
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Where Gen Z priorities clash with outdated hiring practices.
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Why DEI progress remains uneven, with leadership pipelines failing to reflect the workforce.
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How employees are optimistic about AI, but leaders lag in readiness.
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The emerging solutions — from training and local hiring to supportive leadership and benefits that align with worker expectations.
With proprietary surveys, executive interviews, and sector-by-sector analysis, this 140-slide report offers a blueprint for building a resilient, future-ready workforce.
What You'll Learn From This Report
- Why Talent Is a Board-Level Conversation
- Labor Market for Travel
- Retention and Employee Sentiment
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- Gen Z and the Future Workforce
- Tech Skills and AI-Readiness
- Sector-Specific Deep Dives
